So using quicksilver can I add custom keyboard shortcuts to start an Application in mac ?

I am so surprised that mac doesn't have anything very intuitive mechanism for having shortcuts to start an app. May be I don't know.. ?
I recently bought MBP and have been a Ubuntu Linux user for sometime. So these things were so integral that I miss them in this MBP.

I think Spotlight is underrated as an app launcher, you might want to see how that works for you (a few more key presses required, though).

Apple + space, then typing "ter" would probably be enough to highlight the Terminal app (as the "Top Hit" is highlighted by default), then just press Enter to launch. For things not in the Dock it's probably the fastest way to get to those things.

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